Emergency Red List of Iraqi Antiquities at Risk

This document has been designed as a tool for customs officials, police officers, art dealers and collectors to help them to recognize objects that could originate from Iraq.

This Red List describes the general types of artefacts most favoured by the illegal antiquities market, so that these may be identified and detained wherever they surface. They are protected by legislation, banned from export and may under no circumstances be imported or put on sale. An appeal is therefore being made to museums, auction houses, art dealers and collectors not to acquire them.

This is a list of the types of objects from Iraq which are particularly at risk and are likely to have been stolen. It is in no way exhaustive. Because of the tremendous variety of objects, styles, and periods, any antiquity from Iraq should be treated with suspicion.

This Red List was drawn up by a group of 12 international experts during a meeting held at the Interpol headquarters in Lyon (France) on 7 May 2003.